Sharpening device



April 17, 1934. o. E. GUPTON SHARPENING DEVICE Filed Dec. 2, 1932 2Sheets-Sheet l April 17, 1934.,

o. E. GUPTON SHARPENING DEVICE Filed Dec. 2, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Apr. 17, 1934 UNETE STTES Fries 8 Claims.

This invention relates to a sharpening device designed primarily for thesharpening of shears, but it is to be understood that a device, inaccordance with this invention may be employed for sharpening purposesin any connection for which it is found applicable.

In the usual sharpening devices for shears, the shear blade is clampedin such a manner, that it is necessary after beveling and sharpening theshears to employ a hammer to place them in proper bevel and curvature asthey are oftentimes sprung in the sharpening by the old clamp methods,and to overcome the foregoing objection is one of the aims of a shearsharpening device in accordance with this invention.

Further objects of this invention are to provide a sharpening deviceincluding a vertically adjustable shear blade supporting element havingan angularly adjustable seat for the point of the shear blade, and avertically adjustable sharpener support having an angularly adjustableguide for the sharpener.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a shear sharpening device constituting apermanent and substantial means for sharpening shears; for positioningthe shear blade for any desired bevel, and for clamping and holding theshear blade acted upon to prevent it being altered during the 30sharpening or finishing operations and thus avoid the chances ofspringing the points of the shear blades.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a shear sharpenin device which is comparativelysimple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact,thoroughly efficient in its use, conveniently adjustable, readilyassembled and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

To the above ends essentially and to others which may hereinafterappear, the invention consists of such parts and such combination ofparts which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of the sharpening device.

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 Figure 1 with the shears and sharpeneromitted.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 Figure 1 with the sharpener and shearsomitted.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section broken away of the sharpener.

Figure 6 is a sectional detail, broken away, illustrating a modifiedform. of shear or sharpener supporting element.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of the modified formof shear or sharpener supporting element positioned in the base of thedevice.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view of a holder for a sharpener member orfile.

Figure 9 is a view, upon a reduced scale, looking toward the inner faceof the shear blade clamp.

With reference to Figures 1 to 5 and 9, the device includes a base plate9 having arranged on the back portion thereof the upstanding stationarysection 10 of a shear blade clamp 10. The section is may be connected tothe plate 9 in any suitable manner, and is shown by way of example, asintegral with the latter. The section 10 is flush with the rear edge 11of plate 9 and extends from the side edge 12 to the side edge 13 ofplate 9. The section 10 includes an intermediate part 14 and a pair ofend parts 15, 16. The end part 15 is of greater height than the parts14, 16. The upper face of part is is fiat and is disposed ina planeparallel to the plane of the upper face of plate 9. The top of part 16inclines upwardly from edge 13 and merges into one end of the upper faceof part I l. The other end of the upper face of part 14 merges into theinner or working face 17 of section 16. The face 17 is disposed at anacute angle with respect to the part 14 and is of a length to extendfrom its point of mergence with the upper face of part 1% to the upperend of part 15. The part 14 intermediate its ends is formed withavertical socket 18 having a threaded wall and opening at the topthereof. The clamp 10' also includes a shiftable section 19 formed witha lower flat face which opposes the upper fiat face of part 14 of thestationary section 10, and is formed with a vertical opening 20 aligningwith the socket 18. The opening 20 extends froin the lower to the upperface of section 19. The latter is of a length greater than. that of part14 of a width corresponding to that of parts 14, 15 and 16, The section19 has one end squared and its other end inclined upwardly and outwardlyfrom the lower face of section 19 to provide the latter with a workingface 21 to oppose the workin face 17 of section 10. The working face 21is disposed at an acute angle with respect to the lower face of section19, and is adjustable relative to the working face 17. The faces 17 and21 coact to clamp the handle of a shear blade 37 to hold the latter atan inclination to obtain the desired bevel. The sections 10 and 19 areadjustably connected together by a bolt 23 passing through opening 20and threadedly engaging with the wall of socket 18. The bolt 23 at itsupper end has a winged head 24 for seating upon the top of section 19.

The base plate 9 in proximity to its front edge 25 and to one side ofits transverse median is formed with a lengthwise extending rectangularpocket 26, which opens at its front side into a slot 27 formedlengthwise of plate 9 and opening at the edge 25 of the latter. The baseplate 9 in proximity to its edge 13 and intersecting its longitudinalmedian is provided with a transversely extending rectangular pocket 28,which opens into its outer side into a slot 29, formed transversely ofplate 9 and opening at the edge 13 of the latter.

Extending lengthwise of plate 9 across the mouth of pocket 26 andaligning with the longitudinal median of the latter is a combined trackand holding member 39, formed at each end with an eye 31, for thepassage of holdfast means 32 for anchoring member 90 to plate 9.Extending transversely of plate 9, across the mouth of pocket 28 andalignmg with the longitudinal median of the latter is a combined trackand holding member 33, formed at each end with an eye 34 for the passageof holdfast means 35 for anchoring member 33 to plate 9.

The device includes a supporting element 36 for the outer end of a shearblade 3'? and which consists of a standard 39 formed with a socket 40opening at the upper end thereof. The wall of the socket 40 is threadedand below the latter the standard 39 is provided with a transverseopening 41 and a socket 42 having a threaded wall. The socket 42 isdisposed at right angles to opening 41 and has its mouth at the frontside of the standard. The latter is arranged in and seats upon thebottom of pocket 26. The mouth of socket 42 permanently aligns with theinner end of slot 26. Threadedly engaging with the wall of socket 40 isa vertically adjustable peripherally threaded post 43 having a head 44provided with a V-shaped seat 45 for the outer end of blade 37. The seat45 is capable of being positioned at an angle with respect to the upperend of the standard 39, the latter being slidably mounted on member 30which extends through opening 41. The element 36 may be adjustedlengthwise of pocket 26, and is maintained in set position by a bindingbolt 46 which extends through slot 27 and threadedly engages with thewall of socket 42. The bolt 46 has a winged head 4'7 to abut the edge 25of plate 9.

The device further includes a combined guiding and supporting element 48for one end of a sharpener, the latter being generally referred to at49. The element 48 consists of a standard 50 ing a threaded wall.

formed with a socket 51 opening at the upper end thereof. The wall ofthe socket 51 is threaded and below the latter, the standard 50 isprovided with a transverse opening 52 and a socket 53 hav- The socket 53is disposed at right angles to opening 52 and has its mouth at the outerside of standard 50. The latter is arranged in and seats on the bottomof pocket 28. Threadedly engaging with the wall of socket 51 is avertically adjustable peripherally threaded post 54 formed with anenlarged head 55 provided with an eye 56 constituting a guide for thesharpener 49. The eye 56 is capable of being positioned at an angle withrespect to the upper end of standard 50, the latter being slidablymounted on member 33 which extends through opening 52. The element 48may be adjusted lengthwise of pocket 28, and is maintained in setposition by a binding bolt 57 which extends through slot 29 andthreadedly engages with the wall of socket 53. The bolt 57 has a wingedhead 58 to abut the edge 13 of plate 9.

The sharpener 49 includes a pair of opposed, spaced, oppositely disposedtapered holders 59, 60 of like form and each has a lengthwise extendingopening 61 with its Wall threaded, a stepped inner face 62 formed with atransverse groove 63 and with said face providing a transverse shoulder64 spaced from groove 63.

The sharpener 49 includes a combined guide and supporting rod 65extended from holder 60 and formed with an inner peripherally threadedportion 66 to engage the wall of the opening 61 in holder 60. A handle67 engages a peripherally threaded shank 68 formed on the bar 65 forengagement with the wall of opening 61 in holder 59, and interposedbetween the rear end of the latter and forward end of handle 67, as wellas threadedly engaging with shank 68 is a lock nut 69. Seated upon theshoulders 64 and abutting the inner faces of the holders is a sharpeningmember '70, which is illustrated by way of example as consisting of abar of carborundum. It is to be understood that the member '70 may be ofany suitable material for sharpening the shear blade. Seated at its endsin the grooves 63 is a file '71. The member '70 and file '71 are clampedto the holders 59, 60 and arranged in parallel spaced relation. The rod65 is extended through eye 56 when the sharpener 49 is used.

With reference to Figures 6 and '7 modified forms of blade and sharpenersupporting elements respectively are shown, as well as a modified formof base plate. The change in the construction of these elements withrespect to elements 36 and 48 reside in the standards and the means foranchoring the standards. The standards 72 of the supporting elementsshown in Figures 6 and '7 function for the same purpose as the standard39 or 50, but are not formed in their lower portions with openings andsockets, otherwise they are of the same construction as the standardsshown in Figures 3, 4. With one of the standards '72 is to be associateda post 43 and with the other a post 54. A yoke shaped base member '73 ispositioned about the lower end of each standard '72 and which hasswivelly connected thereto, as at '74, the inner end of a binding bolt75 formed with a winged shaped head 75. The bolts 75 are disposed atright angles to the standards '72.

The modified form of base plate is indicated at 7'7 and is formedintermediate its ends on its upper face with a rectangular mortise '78opening at the front edge '79 of the plate. The latter between its frontand rear edges is formed with a rectangular mortise which opens at theend edge 81 of plate '77. The mortices are disposed at right angles toeach other. Secured against the edges '79, 81 of plate '77 are flatstrips 82, 83 for closing the outer sides of the mortises 76, 80respectively. Each strip is formed with an elongated rectangular slot 84extending lengthwise thereof. Slidably mounted in each slot 84 is aninteriorly threaded grommet 85, flanged as at 86 for coupling it to theslotted strip.

One of the standards 72 is removably mounted in mortise '78 and theother in mortise 30. The standards may be adjusted lengthwise of themortises and they seat upon the bottoms of the latter.

The bindingbolts 75 extend through and have threaded engagement withthegrommets 85. The bolts are capable of being shifted lengthwise ofslots 84 and when shifted not only carry the base members 73, but alsothe standards '72 and grommets 85. The bolts are employed for bindingthe base members to the standards 72 and the latter to the inner wallsof the mortises.

The base plate 9, as well as the plate 77 is formed with spaced parallelsockets opening at its upper face to removably and selectively receive ablade supporting element of the form shown in Figure 6. The socketsreferred to are shown with respect to plate 9 and indicated at 87.

Figure 8 illustrates a modified form of holder for a sharpener member orfile, and it comprises a rod 88 terminating at one end in a plate 89having extending therefrom and at right angles thereto a pair of spacedparallel flanges 9 1), 91,

, the former provided with an opening 92 formed with a threaded wall.Engaging with the wall of opening 92 is a thumb screw 93 for clampingone end of the sharpener or file between the flanges.

The clamp 10 is adjustable and its purpose is to clamp or bind the shearblade 37 to be sharpened, as indicated by the pair of scissors as shownin Figures 1 and 2 as being clamped and adjusted in position. Thepurpose of element 48 is to guide and support the rod 65 of sharpener49. The post 54 of element 48 is adjustable to any desired height inconnection with different sizes of shears or scissors that may bedesired to be sharpened. The purpose of element 36 to support the outerend of blade 37 and the post of such element is adjustable to anydesired height for the same function as that referred to with respect topost 54. The seat at the top of post 54 holds the point of the shearblade to be acted upon. The combination of clamp 19 and element 36 inconnection with the handle of shear blade 37 resting on the base plateholds the blade 37 in a rigid position to be beveled, sharpened orfinished in the desired manner when the sharpener i9 is used inconnection with element 48.

By placing the sharpener 49 across the blade 37 and with the rod 65extended through eye 56 in post 54, the latter can be adjusted to theposition whereby any desired bevel can be created on the blade 37. Afteradjustment of post 54 the member '70 is employed for sharpening blade37. After the blade has been sharpened the file 71 may be used forgiving corrugated finish on the shears.

The supporting element for the sharpener is adjustable in eitherdirection on account of the variances in distance due to the sharpeningof small or large shears and to permit as near as possible a centeringof the sharpener across the blade of the shears. It will be observedthat a smaller shear would require the supporting ele" ment for theshear blade to be positioned closer to the clamp 10 on account of theshortness of the shear blade and likewise necessitates the adjusting ofthe supporting element which supports and guides the rod 65 of thesharpener. As the form of blade supporting element shown in Figure 6includes a standard which is removable, the standard with its associatedparts can be removed from the mortise and positioned in a selectablesocket 87 whereby the blade support would be arranged nearer clamp 10'than as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 6.

What I claim is:

1. In a shear sharpening device, an adjustable shear blade clamp, avertically and horizontally adjustable shear blade supporting elementineluding an angularly'adjustable seat for thepoint of the blade andopposing in spaced relation said clamp, and a vertically andhorizontally adjustable sharpener supporting elenient spaced from saidother element and clamp and including an angularly adjustable guide forsaid sharpener.

2. In a shear sharpening device, an adjustable shear blade clamp, avertically and horizontally adjustable shear blade supporting elementincluding an angularly adjustable seat for the point of the blade andopposing in spaced relation said clamp, a vertically and horizontallyadjustable sharpener supporting element spaced from said other elementand clamp and including an angularly adjustable guide for saidsharpener, and means contacting with said elements for maintaining themin set position.

3. In a shear sharpening device, a base plate, an adjustable shear bladeclamp connected there to, a vertically adjustable supporting element forthe shear blade opposing in spaced relation said clamp and seated in andbodily shiftable lengthwise of said plate, a vertically adjustablecombined guide and supporting element for a sharpener spaced from saidclamp and shear blade supporting element and seated in and bodilyshiftable transversely of said plate, and means for detachablymaintaining said elements in their shifted positions lengthwise andtransversely of the plate.

4. In a shear sharpening device. a base plate, an adjustable shear bladeclamp connected thereto, a vertically adjustable supporting element forthe shear blade opposing in spaced relation said clamp and seated in andbodily shiftable lengthwise of said plate, a vertically adjustablecombined guide and supporting element for a sharpener spaced from saidclamp and shear blade supporting element and seated in and bodilyshiftable transversely of said plate, means for detachably maintainingsaid elements in their shifted positions lengthwise and transversely ofthe plate, said shear blade supporting element including an angularlyadjustable seat for the point of the shear blade, and said combinedguide and supporting element for the sharpener in cluding an angularlyadjustable eye for the passage of one end of the sharpener.

5. In a shear sharpening machine, a base plate,

an upstanding adjustable clamp connected to said plate for clamping thehandle end of a shear blade, a standard mounted in the plate and capableof being bodily shifted lengthwise with respect to the latter andopposing and spaced from the clamp, a standard mounted in the plate andcapable of being bodily shifted transversely with respect to the latterand spaced from the said other standard and clamp, vertically adjustableposts mounted in and extending upwardly from said standards, one of saidposts including a seat for receiving the pointed end of the shear blade,the other of said posts provided with an eye for the passage of one endof a sharpener and providing a guide for the latter, and means forfixedly maintaining said standards in set position.

6. In a shear sharpening device, a base plate having a shear blade clampat one side thereof, 1

said plate having its upper face formed with a cutout to receive acombined guide and supporting element for a sharpener, and said platehaving its upper face formed transversely thereof with a series ofspaced aligning cutouts for selectively receiving a shear blade supportto oppose in spaced relation said clamp.

7. In a shear sharpening device, a base plate, an adjustable shear ladeclamp connected thereto, a vertically adjustable supporting element forthe shear blade opposing in spaced relation said clamp and seated in andbodily shiftable lengthwise of said plate, a vertically adjustablecombined guide and supporting element for a sharpener spaced from saidclamp and shear blade supporting element and seated in and bodilyshifted transversely of said plate, and spaced means operating through apair of edges for the plate for detachably maintaining said elements intheir shifted positions lengthwise and transversely of the plate, thesaid edges disposed at right angles to each other.

8. In a shear sharpening device, a base plate, an adjustable clamp forthe handle of a shear blade, said clamp being connected upon andextending upwardly from the plate, a vertically adjustable supportingelement for the point of the shear blade, opposing said clamp andmounted in and capable of being bodily shifted with respect to theplate, a vertically adjustable combined guide and supporting element fora sharpener spaced from said other element and said clamp and mounted inand bodily shiftable with respect to the plate in a direction at rightangles to the direction of shift of the said other element,

and means for detachably maintaining said elements in their shiftedpositions.

OSCAR E. GUPTON.

